Why Is Europe Warming Faster Than Other Continents?

Circular Economy

Europe is warming at nearly twice the global average rate. This is due in part to its location and air quality.

The hottest days of 2026 in Europe occurred during the extreme heat wave in late June, with peak temperatures of around 44.6°C in France, 39.4°C in the Netherlands, and 38.8°C in Switzerland on and around June 26, 2026. This has led to wildfires in France and Spain, where more than 172,000 hectares have already been destroyed by wildfires this year. According to climate scientists, such heat waves will become less and less exceptional. The reason? Europe appears to be the fastest-warming continent in the world. This is due to a number of factors.

Why aren’t temperatures rising at the same rate everywhere on Earth?

The accelerated warming is almost entirely caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases, especially the burning of fossil fuels, and, as you’ll read later, waste also plays a major role in this.

The different rates of warming across continents are determined by geography, the ratio of land to water, proximity to the poles, and local air or ocean currents. Let’s zoom in on Oceania, which is completely surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Because water warms up very slowly due to its enormous heat capacity, the temperature of the surrounding seas rises only slightly per decade. The wind blowing across the land from these cool oceans acts as a natural air conditioner. As a result, the average air temperature on land in Oceania rises much more slowly than on continents attached to a large landmass, such as Asia and Europe. There is one nuance, though: Africa. This gigantic continent accounts for 20% of the Earth’s total landmass, yet it warms up more slowly than Europe or Asia. How is that possible?

If you look at the map, you’ll see that the entire central and southern part of Africa forms a sort of point. This vast landmass is bordered on the left by the Atlantic Ocean and on the right by the Indian Ocean. Just as in Oceania, these deep oceans absorb a great deal of heat and carry relatively cool sea air over large parts of the continent. In addition, a very large part of Africa lies directly on and around the equator. In this tropical region, it is naturally warm all year round. The extra heat from climate change does not directly cause a large spike in temperature here, but it does lead to increased evaporation. The extra energy is therefore mainly absorbed by the evaporation of water from the tropical rainforests in Congo, Gabon, Uganda, and the oceans, which slightly slows the rise in air temperature.

What about Europe? We’ll address that in the next section.

World map showing the rate of warming per continent: Europe is warming fastest due to climate change, at 0.56°C per decade

Why is Europe, specifically, warming so quickly?

According to the latest Copernicus European State of the Climate report, published in April, nearly the entire European continent experienced above-average temperatures in 2025. This included sea surface temperatures as well. And that’s due to a number of factors.

Melting iceberg at the North Pole, a consequence of climate change and the declining albedo effect Earlier in this blog, we briefly mentioned the polar regions. Europe is located near the North Pole, the region that is warming faster than the rest of the world. In the past, the North Pole was covered in white ice and snow. White reflects up to 85% of sunlight directly back into space. This is referred to as a high albedo. Now, due to rising temperatures, the ice is melting. The result? The dark ocean water (compared to the bright snow that reflects the sun) reflects almost no sunlight but instead absorbs 90% of the sun’s heat. The water gets warmer, causing even more ice to melt. At the North Pole, the ice lies directly on top of the warmer ocean water. As soon as the water beneath the ice warms up, the ice melts rapidly from below. Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic, is feeling the greatest impact of this.

In addition, air circulation plays an important role. You’re probably familiar with the terms “high-pressure” and “low-pressure” systems from the weather forecast. Prolonged high-pressure systems are becoming increasingly common these days. These are accompanied by clear and dry weather.

Another factor contributing to the warming of Europe is the improvement in air quality. This is positive news, though in this case it works differently. Polluted air contains small particles that have a cooling effect on the climate. These small particles reflect some of the sunlight back into space. But because the air is cleaner, there are fewer particles to reflect sunlight back into space. As a result, global warming in Europe may be further intensified.

What does waste have to do with CO2 emissions?

Geographic location, nearby polar regions, and local air or ocean currents determine how quickly a continent warms. But these are not the only factors to consider. A major contributor to global warming is CO2 emissions: a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally but is also released in large quantities when fossil fuels are burned. Too much CO2 in the atmosphere intensifies the greenhouse effect and leads to global warming.

One source of CO2 that is often overlooked is waste. Waste that is incinerated accounts for approximately 150 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. Did you know that you can reduce your CO2 emissions by optimizing your waste management? For example, one of our partners identified a CO2 reduction potential of as much as 43% simply by improving waste separation. Waste that ends up in the general waste stream unnecessarily is incinerated. That’s a shame, because better sorting can prevent this. Additionally, there are efficiency gains to be made in transportation—for example, containers that are emptied when only half full, even though they could have held more waste. Fewer transport trips mean cost savings as well as lower CO2 emissions—a win-win situation. By taking a close look at your waste management, you can identify exactly where there is room for improvement.

How do you report CO2 emissions under the CSRD?

An increasing number of regulations require companies to report on their environmental performance. CO2 emissions are a key component of this. With reliable data, you gain insight into the impact of your waste streams, support your sustainability decisions, and comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

Milgro measures the CO2 impact of waste streams using a specially developed methodology based on the LCA framework. We examine the entire chain: from production and use to processing, transportation, and avoided emissions. Our certified CO2 reports provide insight into the true impact of your waste management, help you meet reporting requirements such as the CSRD, and show where optimizations yield the greatest benefits.

Want to optimize your waste management, reduce CO2 emissions and comply with laws and regulations?

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FAQs about Europe’s rapid warming and CO2 emissions from waste

How much faster is Europe warming than the global average? +-

Europe is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, mainly due to its proximity to the North Pole and the decline in air pollution.

Why is Europe, specifically, warming faster than other continents? +-

Europe lies close to the North Pole, where melting ice and dark ocean water amplify warming. In addition, cleaner air means there are fewer particles to reflect sunlight back into space, so warming continues to intensify.

What is the albedo effect, and why does it accelerate warming at the North Pole? +-

White ice and snow reflect up to 85% of sunlight. When the ice melts, the dark ocean water instead absorbs up to 90% of the sun’s heat, causing the region to warm even faster.

Which continents are warming the slowest, and why? +-

Oceania and Africa warm relatively slowly because they are largely surrounded by oceans, which absorb heat slowly and blow cool air over the land.

How much CO2 is released by incinerating waste? +-

Worldwide, waste incineration accounts for around 150 million metric tons of CO2 emissions every year. Much of this can be prevented by separating waste more effectively.

How can a company reduce its CO2 emissions through waste management? +-

Better waste separation prevents waste from being incinerated unnecessarily, and optimizing transport prevents containers from being emptied when they are only half full. For one of Milgro’s partners, this resulted in a CO2 reduction potential of 43%.

How are CO2 emissions related to CSRD reporting? +-

The CSRD requires companies to report on their environmental performance, including CO2 emissions. Reliable data on your waste streams helps you meet this reporting obligation and substantiate where you can achieve sustainability gains.

Want to learn more about CO2 emissions and waste?

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